Photo © 2012 Markus Spiering
Click here for original image.
A hundred geeks with cameras. Yup, and I was buried smack-dab in the middle of ’em. Didn’t want to be there. Didn’t mean to be there.
I remember in a high-school science class, we saw a film of an amoeba eating a paramecium. The amoeba’s body flowed around its prey, and after it had the poor bug surrounded, it just, kinda… digested it, right there, just like that. The paramecium squiggled and squirmed, tried valiantly to escape, but too little, too late. And then—poof!—it shimmered and was absorbed into the predator. It was gone.
That was me, that poor, little paramecium. My goofy boyfriend pulled me in before I knew what was going on. And by the time I realized what was going on, I was surrounded, and being digested by an amoeba, and unable to escape.
Chet had begged me to come along. He said I’d enjoy it. For the record, I didn’t. But I was glad he was finally enjoying something. He’s been so bent out of shape since he lost his job last April. Laid off on April the first, if you can get that joke.
We scaled back on our standard of living. That didn’t bug me so much. But what really surprised me was how much it got him down. He stopped doing anything constructive, spent all day watching TV, wasn’t looking for work, said we’d do fine on his unemployment check.
We’ve been surviving on peanut butter and ramen noodles and pasta and frozen burritos. I don’t remember the last time I had a home-cooked meal.
I started by bugging him about his lack of work. He said he wanted a little vacation. I gave him a little vacation, then asked again. He said he was trying, but that nothing was available. I didn’t believe him, not that much. I asked him what job ads he had responded to each day. Most days, he just ignored me. Some days, yelled at me. I told him we could no longer afford cable TV. He convinced his parents to pay the bill.
I thought of getting ahold of a sledgehammer and having an “accident” with the TV set, but then I thought twice: we might need to sell it someday.
He was partially right, of course. There were no jobs in his field. But what bugged me most was that he was letting it get to him. His mind began wasting away to nothing, nothing at all, all day everyday. And as each day continued, he sank lower into the couch, and further into pity party.
I didn’t know how to snap him out of it. But his birthday gift did. One of his old office buddies sent him a digital camera, along with a really cool-looking book about how to take fun pictures about anything at all.
So when he threw himself into the hobby, and the hobby became an obsession, and a obsession became an endeavor, and when he began studying photography and framing and composition and lighting, and posted photo after photo to Flickr, and when he began hanging out with other camera-heads, and started talking about pursuing it professionally… I wanted to object. But not for the reason you might think. I wanted to object, because I was beginning to feel ignored.
But at least he was smiling again, and I had missed his smile. And the TV remained powered-off, except for the weekly exhibitions of his latest photos, which he would force me to watch, no matter how many hours I had worked that day.
Then, when he begged me to come to this big gathering of camera-heads, I gave in. I didn’t want to at first, but he pushed me and pressed me, and then he cuddled up next to me and told me about how much fun it was going to be to get away and that we hadn’t had a vacation in forever and that I needed a break—which was true. And he kissed me, and I melted and said yes. Sigh.
I hated it, didn’t enjoy it at all. There were no other camera-head-significant-others there. The food was okay, but the guest speaker spoke only camera-ese, and told only stupid camera jokes and camera stories. Then those assembled talked all afternoon about gadgets and techniques and awards, and showed each other the contents of their camera cases. Chet even got some business advice, which may or may not have been good advice, but he was enjoying himself, even though I had no idea what anyone was talking about.
“This is my girlfriend, Katy.”
And I smiled and faded into the background, maybe fondled a drink and tried to look interested in what they were saying while pondering the intricacies of the room’s potted flora. Too much, too far, too long. I was out of it. I so wanted to go home.
We started toward the door, walked out into the afternoon sun. I made a move toward the car, but Chet grabbed my hand and pulled me in the opposite direction. I looked up and saw that we were surrounded by a growing crowd, which was closing in around us on all sides. I was trapped, and one of the geeks with a camera was pointing it right at me. The other targets pointed their cameras back at him, but I was defenseless, hair akimbo, probably with a piece of spinach stuck between my teeth… not that it mattered, as no one could see my teeth.
The geek said, “Alright! Ready everybody?! Cheeeezzze!”
And everyone said, “Cheeeezzze!”
“Hold on!” He interrupted them, futzing with his camera. “Okay…”
“Quick!” said Chet. “Somebody fire before he reloads!” And raised his camera and took aim.
And that’s when the geek pulled the trigger.
An intriguing discussion is worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you should publish more on this subject, it may not be a taboo matter but generally people don’t speak about these issues. To the next! Many thanks!!
Really enjoyed the logical flow С everything connects nicely http://www.mymiracle.jp/risk-ride33
A fascinating discussion is worth comment. I believe that you should write more on this subject matter, it may not be a taboo subject but typically people don’t talk about these issues. To the next! Cheers!!
Please let me know if you’re looking for a article writer for your weblog. You have some really great posts and I believe I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d really like to write some articles for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please send me an e-mail if interested. Thank you!
A motivating discussion is worth comment. I do think that you should publish more about this subject matter, it may not be a taboo subject but usually people do not speak about such subjects. To the next! Kind regards!!
Что получите за 24 часа
Подробнее – http://narkologicheskaya-klinika-domodedovo0.ru
мостбет вход в личный кабинет мостбет вход в личный кабинет
https://kingshouse.gov.jm/florida-based-jamaicans-challenged-by-governor-general/
Формат
Получить дополнительную информацию – https://narkologicheskaya-klinika-serpuhov0.ru/
Юридические вопросы требуют профессионального решения — ошибки в документах или процедурах могут стоить времени и денег. Команда опытных специалистов в Краснодаре предлагает бесплатную первичную консультацию по семейным, жилищным и автомобильным спорам. Адвокаты проводят детальный анализ ситуации и разрабатывают чёткий алгоритм дальнейших действий для клиента. Компания работает с делами любой сложности — от раздела имущества до оспаривания сделок с недвижимостью. Записаться на приём и получить помощь можно через https://yuridicheskaya-kompaniya-krasnodar.ru/ в удобное время по телефону. Более трёхсот человек ежемесячно получают квалифицированную поддержку и защиту своих интересов в судах всех инстанций.
Публикация приглашает вас исследовать неизведанное — от древних тайн до современных достижений науки. Вы узнаете, как случайные находки превращались в революции, а смелые мысли — в новые эры человеческого прогресса.
Подробнее тут – https://offer-here.website/hello-world
planet 7 – https://planet-7-casino-us.com
A motivating discussion is definitely worth comment. I do believe that you should publish more on this subject matter, it may not be a taboo matter but usually people do not speak about such issues. To the next! All the best!!
An interesting discussion is worth comment. I do believe that you ought to publish more about this topic, it may not be a taboo matter but usually people don’t discuss these subjects. To the next! Kind regards!!
подробнее kraken ссылка
An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment. I think that you should publish more about this topic, it may not be a taboo matter but typically folks don’t talk about these subjects. To the next! Kind regards!!
A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment. I do think that you need to write more on this topic, it may not be a taboo matter but generally folks don’t talk about these issues. To the next! Cheers!!
подробнее kraken ссылка
смотреть здесь krab2at
An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment. I think that you need to publish more about this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but usually people do not discuss such topics. To the next! Best wishes!!
569 bet – https://569bet-br.com
An intriguing discussion is definitely worth comment. I do think that you need to publish more on this subject, it may not be a taboo subject but usually people do not talk about these topics. To the next! Kind regards!!
В этом материале представлены детали, которые хоть и занимательны, но не особенно значимы. Мы рассматриваем моменты, которые трудно назвать важными, но всё же решили включить их для полноты картины.
Вот – секс шоп
В данном тексте собраны разнообразные случайные сведения и не вполне определённые идеи, которые могут вызвать интерес. Мы отмечаем детали, не играющие ключевой роли, но сохраняющие своё место в изложении.
Подробнее читать – таблетки для аборта
https://www.behance.net/sylvestamprofi
An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you ought to write more on this subject matter, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people don’t speak about these topics. To the next! Kind regards!!
A motivating discussion is definitely worth comment. I believe that you ought to publish more about this subject, it might not be a taboo subject but typically people do not talk about these subjects. To the next! Many thanks!!
купить диплом киевского университета купить диплом киевского университета .
мост бет бетгеймс http://mostbet2032.help/
https://www.s-white.net/forum/topic/51145/1xbet-azerbaijan-bonus-code:-1x200free-%E2%80%93-%E2%82%AC130-bonus
https://imgur.com/user/1xbetfreebet/about
Pretty great post. I simply stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I have truly loved surfing around your weblog posts. In any case I will be subscribing for your feed and I’m hoping you write again soon!
A fascinating discussion is definitely worth comment. I think that you should write more about this topic, it may not be a taboo matter but typically folks don’t discuss such topics. To the next! Best wishes!!
winzada777 – https://winzada777-br.com/
Транспортная компания “Открытый Краснодар” более пяти лет обеспечивает качественные и безопасные перевозки пассажиров по городу и краю. Фирма специализируется на аренде автобусов, микроавтобусов и минивэнов с профессиональными водителями для корпоративных клиентов, туристических групп и организации свадебных кортежей. Особое внимание уделяется перевозке детей и вахтовым маршрутам с соблюдением всех норм безопасности. На странице https://krasnodar-transport.ru/ представлены тарифы и подробная информация об услугах компании. Своевременная подача транспорта, чистые салоны и честные цены – главные преимущества, за которые клиенты выбирают эту компанию.
An intriguing discussion is definitely worth comment. I do think that you should write more about this issue, it might not be a taboo matter but typically folks don’t discuss these issues. To the next! Kind regards!!
Multilingual support: technical support service is feasible in two or three languages, including Spanish, English and Portuguese, which bbrbet login to serve the most diverse users.
mostbet игры http://mostbet2032.help/
An interesting discussion is worth comment. I do think that you ought to publish more about this issue, it may not be a taboo matter but usually people do not speak about such topics. To the next! Many thanks!!
в этом разделе krab3 cc
An interesting discussion is worth comment. I do think that you ought to publish more on this subject, it might not be a taboo matter but usually people don’t speak about these subjects. To the next! All the best!!
цена стайлер дайсон для волос с насадками официальный сайт купит… цена стайлер дайсон для волос с насадками официальный сайт купит… .
сюда krab3.at
An intriguing discussion is definitely worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you should write more on this issue, it may not be a taboo matter but typically people do not talk about such topics. To the next! All the best!!
нажмите, чтобы подробнее кракен сайт
An interesting discussion is definitely worth comment. I do believe that you need to publish more about this issue, it might not be a taboo matter but generally people don’t speak about these subjects. To the next! Many thanks!!
A fascinating discussion is worth comment. I think that you need to publish more about this issue, it might not be a taboo subject but usually folks don’t discuss these issues. To the next! All the best!!
An intriguing discussion is definitely worth comment. I believe that you need to write more about this subject matter, it might not be a taboo matter but typically folks don’t speak about such subjects. To the next! Many thanks!!
sportzino casino app – https://sportzino-us.com/sportzino-casino-app/
A motivating discussion is worth comment. There’s no doubt that that you should publish more about this subject matter, it might not be a taboo subject but usually folks don’t discuss these subjects. To the next! Kind regards!!